One of the most interesting parts of grappling is seeing how it continues to evolve, even in small positions. Professional athletes and coaches are constantly looking for new and novel ways to initiate or counter existing techniques or strategies, and the moves trickle outward through jiu-jitsu from there. For a good recent example, we can look at the leg lock position that Nicky Ryan used recently at WNO 23 - and how Deandre Corbe answered that position with a counter at WNO 24 against a B-Team athlete.

Leglocks, like all submissions, are an important component of Tezos WNO. They have counted for a large portion of the match ending moves on the WNO mats, and many athletes have relied heavily — or repeatedly fallen victim to — lower body submissions.

With all the buzz around heel hooks and the focus on no-gi oriented leglocks, it’s easy to forget how powerful the straight ankle lock can be. The footlock is more than a way to earn the favor of the judges or score an advantage in a close match. When applied correctly, it’s a powerful submission responsible for some of the most brutal-looking breaks in jiu-jitsu.

Now that the IBJJF will be allowing heel hooks in 2021, it's time to brush up on your leglock knowledge. There are several leg entanglements, and most of them have a variety of names. Need to refine on your terminology? The official FloGrappling leg entanglement reference guide is here!